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Food Insecurity In Hawaii: The Untold Truth of Paradise

Leilani Portillo

English 200: Composition I

Mr. Derek Snyder

February 4, 2024
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Introduction

Are you ready to uncover the hidden reality behind Hawaii's famous paradise image?

While it may seem like a dream destination, the harsh truth is that Hawaii faces a severe

challenge affecting its locals' access to food. As a local in Hawaii, I, too, am one of the thousands

of residents of Hawaii who have and continue to suffer from food insecurity, and the main culprit

of this issue is the price to pay to live on this island.

Although Hawaii has always been expensive due to its remote location, the cost of living

in Hawaii has gotten out of control. Hawaii is now claiming the title of the priciest state in the

U.S., witnessing soaring costs across the board. Groceries, in particular, have surged to a

staggering 50% above the national average. Due to the high cost of food, 48% of Hawai'i

families with children are experiencing food insecurity, with 15% reporting they hadn't had

enough food for the week (Shirota, 2021). Food insecurity is becoming more prevalent in

Hawai'i.

As food costs continue to rise, the risk of our family, friends, and community being

unable to access nutritious and affordable food, a basic need for any human being, becomes

increasingly imminent. To address this problem, this paper will dive into Hawaii's pressing issue

of food insecurity, driven by escalating food costs; it will analyze its contributing factors and

propose two viable solutions to mitigate its impact, ultimately concluding with the best way

forward.

Issues with Food Insecurity in Hawaii

Hawaii’s High Dependence on Imports

While Hawaii is portrayed as a rich, greenery island with a self-sufficient ability from the

surface, beneath its surface lies a profound reliance on external sources for sustenance. In fact,
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Hawaii has become so dependent that about 85-90% of its food is imported from the mainland

(Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy, 2012). Hawaii is in a vulnerable

state as imports can easily be affected by natural disasters or global events, which would lead to

a range of severe consequences affecting the population and even the overall well-being of the

state. If something were to happen to the food imports, Hawaii would have only enough food

supply to support its population for five to seven days (McGregor, n.d.). This develops an even

greater tension towards changing the dependency on Hawaii’s food imports.

Rising Food Costs

Due to Hawaii’s vulnerability and heavy reliance on food imports, the cost of food has

significantly escalated; this is because nearly every food item is imported from the mainland, and

the pricing reflects the shipping costs. The local consumer spending on food in 2004-2005

totaled $3.7 billion; considering that 85%-90% of the consumed food is imported, 3.1 billion is

exiting our state (Increased Food Security And Self-Sufficiency Strategy, 2012). Since the island

itself can not produce for its population, Hawaii compensates for the high spending value by

increasing food prices.

As stated by Hawaii Business Magazine, a 2019 study revealed that food prices in Hawaii

were 56% above the national average. Honolulu (capital of Hawaii) households spent 17.3% of

their budget on food, which surpasses the 12.6% U.S. average; households also spent $7,795, or

60.2%, of their food budget on food at home alone and another $5,146 (39.8%) on food

consumed away from home (Consumer Expenditures for the Honolulu Metropolitan Area, 2023).

Not to mention, Hawaii provides one of the lowest minimum wages in the U.S., which explains

why so many Hawaii residents are food insecure.

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The Difficulties of Agriculture

While Hawaii is known for its verdure landscapes and seemingly ideal tropical weather

for agriculture, the reality is that many challenges are hindering the expansion of farming on the

islands. Before external influences arrived in Hawaii, approximately 250,000 acres of land

contributed to 1 million metric tons of food production annually. That amount of food production

was enough to nourish 86 percent of the present-day population of the islands. On the contrary,

over 900,000 acres of cropland and pasture produce a meager 150,000 metric tons of locally

consumed food (McGregor, n.d.), which would not be enough to support its population.

This is why Hawaii has become very, if not entirely, dependent on food importation from

the mainland. The main question is, why doesn’t Hawaii expand its agriculture for food

production? While Hawaii seems to be a perfect place for agriculture, many disadvantages would

occur if Hawaii expanded its agriculture. Some of the challenges that Hawaii faces in expanding

its agriculture include limited availability of arable land, high costs associated with land, climate

variability, water scarcity, and economic factors such as the reliance on the tourism industry. An

essential factor to consider when expanding Hawaii’s agriculture is that most of its revenues do

not surpass the cost it takes to manage it, ultimately leading to a most cost-effective strategy:

food imports (Increased Food Security And Self-Sufficiency Strategy, 2012).

Solutions for Food Insecurity in Hawaii

Food Sustainability

One of the solutions to the prevalent issue of food insecurity is to make Hawaii a more

sustainable island. Although the solution may sound like a substantial reach, if you think about it,

it isn't. Making Hawaii sustainable doesn't have to be urgent, but it can be developed over time.

Some examples of food sustainability are shopping locally, eating seasonally, choosing
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sustainable seafood, reducing meat consumption, minimizing food waste, community gardens,

urban farming, and many more. By being more sustainable, there could be many potential

benefits, such as reducing global emissions of greenhouse gasses by 64% by 2050 if we reduce

the production and consumption of animal-based foods by 50% (Food sustainability, a recipe

against pollution, n.d.).

Additionally, it will benefit our environment and health by reducing exposure to

antibiotic-resistant bacteria or illnesses caused by pesticides. As a community, becoming more

food sustainable in Hawaii can slowly minimize food costs and motivate Hawaii's government to

focus on food sustainability. The Ulupono Initiative has recently been working to increase

Hawaii's local food agriculture to 30%, 50% renewable energy, and 85% of its waste

management (Kimura, n.d.). Keep in mind that replacing just 10% of the food we currently

import would amount to approximately $313 million; moreover, 30% of Hawaii's farmland

would amount to $94 million. The economic impact would result in an extra $188 million in

sales, $47 million in earnings, $6 million in state tax revenues, and the creation of over 2,300

jobs (Increased Food Security and Self-Sufficiency Strategy, 2012).

Challenges to Food Sustainability

Although there are many advantages to Hawaii becoming more food sustainable, it also

has disadvantages. One example of that is that local food isn't always affordable. A survey was

conducted of many locals, and they were asked whether they wanted to buy local food. The

majority of Hawaii's consumers agree to purchase local food. However, only 20% are willing to

pay more for it if there are cheaper alternatives (Kimura, n.d.). The 20% who agree are those

with higher incomes or strongly believe in locally grown food. The survey concluded that

although locals want locally grown food, they are reasonably priced and affordable.
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Furthermore, sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult as housing

developments are being built on agricultural land, affecting the island's overall well-being.

Another difficulty of expanding food agriculture in Hawaii would be the costs of necessities such

as water, land, energy, and labor; Approximately 25% of farms in the state generate annual sales

of only $1,000 (Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, 2023). Another impact that can challenge this

solution is the impact of natural disasters, for example, fires.

Food Distribution Programs & Food Banks

Hawaii’s extensive array of food programs is a vital lifeline, offering a significant need

for low-income individuals and families to have the essential sustenance needed to sustain and

lead healthy lives. Expanding funds for food banks and food programs throughout Hawaii could

provide food support for the thousands of residents dealing with scarce food. According to

Hawaii Foodbank, 1 in 6 Hawaii residents struggle with food insecurity, which includes a rising

number of elderly citizens and more than 70,000 children (Emergency Food Assistance, n.d.).

Hawaii Food Bank commonly receives, stores, and distributes diverse food items and

typically maintains a food supply ranging from 1 million to 1.5 million pounds. This quantity is

sufficient to feed its 120,000 monthly clients for approximately three weeks (Heaton, 2023).

Although food programs in Hawaii are not shy in diversity, as there are almost 200 food

distribution programs, what helps drive and support these programs is the federal funds given.

Recently, the USDA increased food assistance benefits for Hawaii residents to help feed over

100,000 children in the state (Hawaii Launching New USDA Program This Year to Help Nourish

School Children During Summer, 2024).

Hawaii residents rely not only on food banks but also on food programs such as SNAP

benefits, which account for around 200,000 residents in Hawaii (Cervantes, 2024). Many
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individuals- including me- are supported by food programs and/or food banks. Considering that

Hawaii has many natural environmental devastations, just like the recent fires, citizens are/were

primarily dependent on food programs and food banks.

The Maui fires, which destroyed more than 6,300 acres of agricultural land and 2,000

homes and killed 100 citizens (Dobbyn, 2023), caused citizens who lost their homes to rely on

food banks and shelters to stay alive during this devastating situation and were supported by the

government with food programs after the fires. If Hawaii were to expand its commitment and

investment in food programs and food banks, it would address the immediate needs of

low-income individuals and families. It is a step towards building a Hawaii where every resident

can access the essential sustenance needed for a healthy and fulfilling life.

Challenges to Food Programs and Food Banks

The downfall of food banks and programs is the amount of money given to each. Many

individuals could not be fully supported by food programs, which caused a low food supply in

their homes, which is the same thing as falling into food insecurity. Storage issues can also hijack

the goal of minimizing food insecurity in Hawaii. For example, the problem for the Hawaii

Foodbank is that there needs to be more storage space for more food supply. This suggests the

state should increase its support for and funding its non-profit organizations (Heaton, 2023).

Another issue that could challenge this solution is natural disasters. When the fires broke out in

Lahaina, thousands of food, water, and even supplies like cots and blankets were given out

because of the grant given to them by the federal government. However, what would happen if

the grants were insufficient to feed the growing thousands of individuals suffering from food

insecurity because of Hawaii’s high costs? What would happen to shipments if they were to be

potentially shut off?

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Conclusion

When evaluating these two solutions against each other, the most positive step in

decreasing food insecurity in Hawaii is implementing and embracing food sustainability while

educating and publicating more about this issue to the community. Continuing our almost entire

dependency on the mainland for food supply puts us at high risk as a community. Raising

awareness about sustainable food practices can empower individuals and families to make

informed choices that contribute to their overall food security. Becoming a more sustainable

community is vital to reducing the prevalence of food insecurity on this island. Supporting local

agriculture, reducing waste, and embracing eco-friendly practices helps us build Hawaii's

dependence on our food systems and helps the islands thrive.

Investing in sustainable food practices can create a resilient and equitable food system

that provides for everyone's needs while creating jobs and protecting the environment. Working

together for the greater good can create a brighter future for ourselves and our communities. Let's

not wait for the right moment; let's create the right moment and make a difference in our lives

and those around us.

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